Stoker



G. SIMMONS Aug. 14, 1934.

STOKER Filed Nov. 2, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l wrmang @l d'aw 5 G. SIMMONS Aug. 14, 1934.

STOKER Filed NOV. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwumtoz W115: 571721019 Aug. 14, 1934. G. SIQMMONS STOKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 1929 Gordon 51 Trlon- 3;,

Patented Aug. 14, I934 PATENT OFFICE s'roxsn Gordon Simmons, Cleveland. Ohio, assig'nor to Carl Smerling and Charles J- Huber Application November 2, 1929, Serial No. 404,317

3 Claims.

- This invention relates to means for feeding fuel and air to the combustion chamber of a. furnace and consists in primarily providing a hopper suitably supported, an air cooled spout for feeding the fuel, means for feeding air thru said spout, means for regulating the fuel and air supply and means whereby the stoker may be adjusted to the height of the furnace door, all as w more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

a stoker which may be readily moved into and out of operative relation to the combustion chamber of the furnace by providing a support for the hopper, spout and regulating means which are plvotally secured to an upright stand.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stoker which is portably mounted so that the same may be readily moved from place to place including means for raising and lowering the same to meet any height of fire door. This portable device may be mounted on rollers or wheels and provided with means which will release the wheels or rollers from the floor when the stoker is placed in proper position in front of the 'firing door.

A still further object of the invention is the provisionof an air cooled spout for conveying the fuel to the combustion chamber of the furnace. The spout is provided with a trough for feeding of the fuel and beneath this trough is provided an air channel or duct for permitting passage of air therethru, the air cooling the spout and also assisting in combustion of the fuel.

Other objects and advantages of the present tion proceeds and as is more fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:-

F'igure 1 is a side elevation view partly in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the hopper removed and the support in section.

'Figure 3 is an end view.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portable stoke Figure 5 is a section thru the coupling con-- An object of the present invention is to provide invention will become apparent as the descrip-.

spout 14 is provided with a flange 15 for rigidly attaching the same to the member 11. The spout 14 is provided with a trough 16 thru which the pusher bar 13 operates to advance into the furnace at predetermined intervals, small quantities of coal received from the-hopper 10.

When the stoker is in operation the discharge end of the spout 14 is located above the approximate center of the fire so that the spout and the fuel in the trough are subjected to a considerable 5 amount of heat. This results in partial coking of the fuel with a resulting increase in the efiiciency of the furnace. In order to prevent possible destruction of the spout by the heat however,

I prefer to provide the lower portion of the spout with an air duct 17 which as here shown is substantially U-shaped in cross section partially surrounding the trough 16, and may be cast integrally with the spout. This duct 17 communicates at one end with a chamber 37 in the member 11, and terminates at the other end in a port 17 adjacent the tip of the spout. Air is at times supplied to chamber 37 as will be described here-- inaiter, and this air passing through the duct 17 to the combustion chamber of the furnace, tends S0 to cool the spout and prevent its destruction by the heat of the fire. Furthermore, the air is heated during its passage through the duct 17, so that when it reaches the furnace it assists materially in efiicient and rapid combustion. at

As a further precaution against damage, the spout 14 may be constructed of heat resisting ma-' terial, or the spout may be provided with aprotective sheath 18 of heat resistant or refractory material. As illustrated in the drawings, the to lower side of the spout is provided with a removable U-shaped sheath which is retained in position by ribs 19 entering grooves 14 formed in the sides of the spout. This sheath is also provided with an opening 18 which registers with the port 17 to permit the free flow of air from duct 17. Should the sheath be destroyed it may easily be removed from the spout and replaced .by a perfect sheath.

Positioned between the member 11 and spout 14 is a plate 19*- servlng as a shield for the furnace door opening. This plate takes the place of the usual furnace door when the stoker is placed in position for feeding the air and fuel thru the spout connection with the shaft 22 thru pulley 25 for ally connected the coal pusher rod 13. By providing the rod 33 with screwthreaded areason each end it is capable of adjusting the stroking movement of thepusher rod, if when and as it may be desired to regulate the amount of fuel to be conveyed into the combustion chamber.

The motor 21 is mounted upon a base 35 so as to block the same up so that shaft 36 may make a suitable connection with a fan or blower 64 of any desired construction for supplying air to the duct 1'7 of the spout 14. The air from the blower enters the chamber 3'7 in the member 11 from where it passes thru duct 17 under the coal conveying trough into the combustion chamber. Mounted on the base of the blower casing is a/bracket arm 44 extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom and having a collar for receiving a shaft 45. Adjustably mounted on shaft 45 is a cone 46 adapted to be moved toward and away from the opening in said blower whereby the air may be varied if, when, and as desired.

The blower may also be connected to the ash pit by any suitable means, however, preferably as shown in the drawings, by providing the pipe 49 at its lower end with an elbow 49' having a suitable outlet. This elbow outlet is adapted for detachable engagement with a universal Joint 51 so that air may be supplied thru the ash door 52 to the under side of the fire bed whereby a supply of air is fed beneath the fuel bed as well -as above the fueLbed. The ash door isprovided with an opening 54 to which is secured a plate- 55 for receiving the threaded end of a pipe.56

I which constitutes a portion of the universal connection. This pipe 56 is provided with a cylindrical member 5'7 threadedly secured upon thev outer end of pipe 56 and adapted for universal movement within the housing 58 constituting the other portion of the universal connection. The housing 58 has a spherical portion 59 in which the member 5'7 is adapted for free universal movement while on the opposite end there is provided an outwardly flared flange 60 adapted to receive the outlet of the elbow thereby establishing suitable connection for supply ng air beneath the fuel bed. In this construction it will become apparent that the air feed beneath the fuel bed may be broken when the stoker'is withdrawn from the fire door. A suitable damper not shown may be positioned on the base-plate 20 for controlling the supply-of air thru the pipe and universal connection to the under side of the fire bed. 1 The air passing thru the spout 14 not only serves to cool it but also assists in proper combustion of the fuel due to being discharged above the fire bed. It may be desirable to manually regulate the supply of air tothe spout from a point adjacent the spout inlet in addition tothe controlling means at the blower. To effect such a desired regulation, I provide a valve 4'! in the chamber37 of member 11 with a manual control 48 for'varying the air inlet to said spout.

, The motor support, blower, and supporting structure for the worm and reducing gearing are all suitably seemed to the base plate 20.

I prefer to mount the base plate 20, carrying the operating parts, upon a movable carrier to permit convenient manipulation of the stoker into and out of its operative position. As shown in Figures 1 and 3 for example, the base plate 20 is secured to a supporting block 38, which receives the threaded upper end of an upright pipe support 39. The pipe support 39 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 40 having pivotal connection with a vertical post 41 which therefore serves as the sole support for the stoker and may be mounted in any suitable manner adjacent the furnace. e

In the modified form of apparatus shown in Figure 4, the hopper 10 and base plate 20, carrying the operating mechanism for the-pusher bar 130, are mounted upon a truck 42 provided with-rollers or wheels 43. The wheels 43 may be provided with eccentric levers which will lift the wheels from the floor when the stoker is placed in proper position in front of the firing door. This construction permits the stoker to be portable, yet when the stoker is in operation it will be stationarydue to the wheels being lifted from the floor.

with either of the illustrated constructions, the stoker may be conveniently moved into its operative position with the spout 14 entering the furnace, and when it is desired to remove the stoker itmay be conveniently and quickly withdrawn to inspect the fire, to remove clinkers or for other purposes.

By providing a stolrer in accordance with the present invention, it is apparent that a much needed improvement in the art has been accomplished. In using the present stoker, it is posltioned adjacent the flre door opening, the spout 14 positioned thru the opening into and above I the fire bed. Fuel in the hopper 10 is then advanced thru the trough 16 at predetermined intervals. The motor being started operates the pusher rod 13 thru belt 24, shaft 26, conventional type of worm. and reduction gearing, shaft '30, cam plate 31 and members 32 and 34 and be regulated by adjusting the blower inlet. The

motor controls simultaneously the feeding of the fuel and air to the spout 14.

It is desired to automatically control the operation of the stolrer and in this connection .a device consisting of a Warren clock 61 is geared to a cam which rotates once per hour and opens 185 and closes contacts in the motor circuit. This may be connected in multiple with the thermo-. stat but in series with the boiler control so that regardless of the thermostat position but subject 'to position of boiler control, will automatically operate .the stoker a predetermined period in every hour, thereby keeping a live fire at all times. This device may be contained in adust proof box and may be mounted in any desired place or in any convenient-manner.

Various modificationsv and minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and as hereinafter claimed;

What I claim is:

1. In an over-feed stoker for furnaces, a base 180 downwardly onto the fuel in the firebox sub-' stantially at the point where the fuel is discharged, the vertical walls of said conduit each having a horizontal groove, a sheath u shaped in cross section" covering the bottom and side walls of said conduit and having an aperture for registering with said exit, means. on said sheath for engaging in said grooves whereby said sheath may be easily removed and replaced an air pump supplying air to said conduit and means for operating said fuel feeding means and said air pump.

2. In an overfeed furnace stoker, means for feeding fuel to the furnace, a spout for conveying said fuel, air feeding means comprising a conduit in the floor and side walls of the spout whereby air thru said conduit tends to cool said spout, 's'aidco'nduit having an. exit at the underside of the nose of said spout, and a sheath U-shaped in cross section, shielding the sides and the bottom of the delivery end of said spout and having an opening therein adapted to register with said exit.

3. A .stoker comprising a spout adapted to enter the combustion chamber of a furnace to convey fuel and air to the furnace, and a removable channel shaped sheath of fire resistant material shielding the sides and bottom of said spout for protecting the spout from the heat in said chamber, said spout having a trough portion and an air conduit thereunder, said conduit being ufshaped in cross section and surrounding the floor and sidewalls of said troughand having an exit on its under side near the end of the trough, said sheath having an opening near its end registering with said exit.

. GORDON SIMMONS. 

